Eating outdoors is a summertime favorite: enjoying the beautiful weather while enjoying equally beautiful (if not more so!) food “al fresco”. Of all the bed and breakfasts and inns in town The Croff House has the unique amenity of lovely exterior spaces which guests can enjoy almost year round. Since the inn opened in 2009 guests wondered if they could have their breakfast served outside and, up until now, the answer was almost always “no”. That has now changed! The Croff House is pleased to introduce our outdoor dining space.

We’ve moved the four Adirondack chairs that were placed around the fountain to more shaded areas in the back yard. In their place we have installed bistro tables and chairs and created the perfect spot for eating outdoors; tables for two provide privacy for those that want it and personal space for those guests that aren’t “morning people”. The Croff House breakfast will remain a freshly prepared three-course gourmet feast.

Naturally those guests that choose to have their breakfast inside in the Dining Room are most welcome to do so, but those that want the option of breakfasting “al fresco” now have that opportunity as well, weather permitting.

As for the fate of the Adirondack chairs, they were placed in pairs under two of the very large trees with new side tables between them. The shaded areas will stay cool in the summer and allow our guests the opportunity to relax with a good book, good conversation, a glass of wine or refreshing beverage or simply take a nap. The sounds of the fountain provide ideal background sounds for all to enjoy.

Naturally the covered rear porch is still available for guests to use and they can enjoy breakfast on these table as well.

We’re very excited about our new outdoor dining area and believe it is a unique amenity available exclusively to guests of the inn that they won’t find anywhere else in Hudson. Eating outdoors just became a reality at The Croff House and we couldn’t be more pleased.

Getting outdoors at The Croff House after this long winter sounds like an excellent idea!

For the past few months, no matter where you are from, the Winter of 2018 will be remembered for its tenacity; it just didn’t seem to want to end. At the beginning the snow was charming, as it always is at the start of the season, and dreams of a “White Christmas” drift right up to the Holidays. Then it went on and on. Happily, Spring seems to have sprung: the daffodils and hyacinths are in bloom, the trees are budding and as the temperature warms up day by day our thoughts turn to enjoying the outdoors.

Hudson has the distinction of being in the perfect location for avid hikers, bikers, and those who simply want to get outdoors. The Columbia Land Conservancy offers several conservation areas for people to enjoy the beauty of nature. From walking trails all around the Hudson River to waterfalls and hiking trails the CLC helps people get in touch with the flora and fauna that are coming to life this time of year throughout Columbia County, including birding maps and guides for birders.

The many walking trails at Olana offer amazing vistas of the Hudson Valley with wonderful views of the river and Catskill Mountains in the distance. There are “easy” walks and more strenuous “hikes” available at the property, which is open from dawn to dusk daily free of charge. The grounds are also the perfect place to enjoy an al fresco picnic (see our blog post below!).

Closer to home the outdoor areas at The Croff House are perfect for kicking back. The Croff House is the only property in Hudson to offer private outdoor areas where guests can enjoy themselves; our front and rear porches are covered to provide protection from the sun and elements and our rear patio allows guests to unwind, read a book or enjoy a cool beverage and good conversation while listening to the comforting flow of the fountain.

So if you have cabin fever and need to be getting outdoors then a visit to The Croff House is just what you’re looking for. For information and room rates visit our Guest Rooms tab. Already have dates in mind or want to check what’s available? Click here.

For all of you who love winter activities, have we got snow for you! In the past three weeks, we’ve had three major snow storms that have dumped nearly 5 feet of snow over the Hudson Valley. Nearby ski areas like Catamount and Windham Mountain report near perfect ski conditions and cross country skiing trails are in prime shape.

For all of you who prefer curling up in front of a roaring fire, you won’t be left out in the proverbial cold either. With fireplaces in both our library and our living room, as well as fireplaces in our two Suites, there’s plenty of space for you, a friend and/or a good book! And with the center of town only a two blocks away, it’s just a quick dash to some of the finest restaurants in the Hudson Valley. The nearby Amtrak station makes getting here from NYC a breeze and we’ll even pick you up at the station and make sure you’re well pampered.

Winter is the perfect time to visit us and our best rooms are often available with shortly advance booking. So check our our reservation link now to see when you check spend some quality time with our snow!

After six weeks of concentrated effort, the gardens outside the house are finally starting to get back into shape and are coming back to life. The process began with the removal of the two Catalpa trees in the front that were replaced with two new Autumn Red Maples (matching the other trees along Willard Place). Massive weeding and trimming back revealed a number of beautiful rose bushes, iris and peonies, all of which are thriving with the renewed attention. New stone work throughout the front yard provide better access, shape and definition to the front gardens, including resetting the front curb and widening the sidewalk to the front door. Existing day lillies were replanted to accent the new walk, while peony bushes were divided and transplanted throughout the front and back.

A new arbor has been installed to give the existing trumpet vines support and will probably be well grown over by next summer. A new cast iron lamppost provides a warm welcome to our guests while low voltage lighting illuminates the front walkway, our (soon-to-be installed) street sign and other landscaped elements. The existing back yard fence has been relocated, reset and reworked to include a new side gate and new “main” gate for easy entry to the back. Finally new trees and flowering shrubs have been planted in the back gardens so that their spring blooms are well timed for our Grand opening.